Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Tom Collins

The Tom Collins is a shaken gin lemonade: gin, lemon and sugar lengthened with soda water over ice. It is tall, fizzy and dangerously easy to drink on a warm evening.

Preparation~3 minEasyStrengthMediumabout 15% ABVMethodShaken9 guided stepsIngredients4Tall (highball) glass

Sour

In the glassGin · Fresh lemon juice · Simple syrup · Soda water

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker (or a jam jar with a tight lid)
strainer — cobbler shakers have one built into the cap; otherwise a Hawthorne strainer or small sieve
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Gin60 ml
Soda water60 ml
Fresh lemon juice30 ml
Simple syrup15 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 60 ml gin into your shaker
- Gin
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 30 ml fresh lemon juice
- Fresh lemon juice
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml simple syrup
- Simple syrup
04
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
05
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
06
Ice the glass
Fill a tall glass with fresh ice
Why it mattersFill it to the top — a Collins is a long drink, and a full glass of ice keeps it cold to the last sip.
07
Strain cleanly
Strain into the glass over the ice
Why it mattersThe soda goes in the glass, never in the shaker.
08
Top gently
Top with soda water
- Soda water
Why it mattersPour gently down the side so the fizz survives.
09
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a cocktail cherry, and drop a lemon slice into the glass

Know your drink

About the Tom Collins

A gin highball, dry Martini and ruby bitter gin cocktail in a botanical bar.

Named after a hoax

In 1874, a viral joke swept New York: "Have you seen Tom Collins? He’s been saying terrible things about you — he’s in the bar around the corner." Victims stormed into bars demanding Tom Collins, and quick-witted bartenders started serving the drink under that name. The recipe itself — gin, lemon, sugar, soda — was already a beloved "gin punch" in London clubs.

Common questions

Tom Collins FAQ

What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a gin fizz?

Nearly identical ingredients, different serve: a Tom Collins is built long over ice in a tall glass and sipped slowly; a gin fizz is strained into a small glass with no ice and drunk while the fizz lasts. The Collins is the more forgiving, refreshing format.

What is a John Collins?

The same drink made with bourbon instead of gin. Historically the John came first (made with Dutch genever); when bartenders switched to sweeter "Old Tom" gin, the drink took the name Tom Collins.

What ingredients are in a Tom Collins?

A classic Tom Collins calls for 60 ml (2 oz) Gin, 30 ml (1 oz) Fresh lemon juice, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Simple syrup, 60 ml (2 oz) Soda water. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Tom Collins?

A standard Tom Collins is roughly 15% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Tom Collins shaken or stirred?

A Tom Collins is shaken — the rule of thumb is to shake anything with citrus juice. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

What glass do you serve a Tom Collins in?

Serve a Tom Collins in a highball (tall) glass, over fresh ice cubes.

How many calories are in a Tom Collins?

One Tom Collins has approximately 180 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique